2010 Updated Legislation
California: AB 789 Prohibits Cruel Wildlife Killing Methods (UPDATED)
Update (April 25, 2013): This bill passed the Assembly floor today and now moves to the Senate.
Bill description: This bill, sponsored by Born Free USA and The Humane Society of the United States, will ban the most inhumane wildlife trapping practices decrease the chances of family dogs and being inadvertently killed in traps.
New Mexico: HB 316 Bans Animal Killing Contests
Update (February 2013): The bill failed in committee.
Bill description: New Mexico has seen a recent rash of animal killing contests that threaten public safety, are inhumane and are not biologically sound. Killing contests reward people for killing the most animals; prizes offered often have included monetary incentives and semiautomatic rifles. These contests are unethical and send a dangerous message that life is cheap and that senseless killing is cause for celebration. According to a New Mexico State Land Commissioner, Ray Powell, contest hunts are “about personal profit, animal cruelty, and the severe destruction of the delicate balance of this desert ecosystem. It is time outlaw this highly destructive activity.”
South Dakota: SB 205 Authorizes the Hunting of Wolves in Certain Circumstances (UPDATED)
Update (March 2013): This bill passed and was signed into law by the governor.
Bill description: This bill sets the stage for wolves to be killed in any manner should they ever return to South Dakota. Currently there are no wolves in the state. This bill preemptively adds wolves to the list of animals designated as "predator/varmint," and allows for wolves to be hunted, taken or killed in any area of the state. On Feb. 5, 2013, this bill passed the Agriculture and Natural Resources committee by a 9-0 vote.
South Dakota: HB 1148 Eases Rules on Checking Traps and Removing Caught Animals
Update (February 2013): Good news! By a 9-4 vote this bill was “deferred to the 41st day,” which means it will not travel further and is now dead.
Bill description: This bill expands the trap check time to three days statewide. Currently the minimum trap check time is two days in most of the state and threee days in one portion of the state.
Michigan: SB 1350: Establishes Wolf Hunt (UPDATED)
Update (January 2013): The bill passed and was signed on Dec. 31, 2012, to take immediate effect.
Bill description: This bill establishes Michigan’s first open wolf hunt season.
Read bill text here.
California: SB 1480 Protects Wildlife from Most Egregious Nuisance Trapping Practices (UPDATED)
Update (Sept. 26, 2012): Unexpectedly and unfortunately, Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed this bill.
Update (September 2012): This bill passed the Assembly floor on Aug. 23 and passed the Senate floor a second time on Aug. 27, and now it is headed to the governor’s office.
New York: A10041/S7078 — Born Free USA Exotic “Pets” Bill (UPDATED)
Update (August 2012): This bill has been signed into law.
Update (July 2012): This bill has passed both houses of the state Legislature and awaits the signature of Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Bill description: This bill was drafted by Born Free USA and would require "owners" to pay for damages or expenses incurred when their exotic "pets" are released from their enclosures. The bill also requires people to immediately report discovered releases to local police and animal control.
Read the bill here.
California: SB 1221 Prohibits Hounding of Bears and Bobcats (UPDATED)
Update (September 2012): This passed the Assembly floor on Aug. 22 and passed the Senate floor a second time on Aug. 27. It is now headed to the governor’s office.
Update (July 2, 2012): The bill today passed the Water Parks and Wildlife Committee in a vote of 8-4.
Update (June 2012): This bill us up for reconsideration in the Assembly Water Parks and Wildlife Committee.
Bill description: Introduced by Sen. Ted W. Lieu (D-Torrance), it would prohibit hunters from using packs of dogs to pursue bears and bobcats in California. In “hounding,” radio-collared dogs are used to track, chase and run down animals. Using a portable receiver, the hunter can determine when the pursued animal is trapped in a tree and then comes to shoot that animal at point-blank range.
In their frantic retreat from the dogs, bears and bobcats endure a tremendous amount of stress. In addition, hounding may separate mother bears from their cubs, leaving the young orphaned or even caught and torn up by the dogs. The dogs themselves also placed at extreme risk of injury from encounters with wild and terrified bears and bobcats.
Read and track the progress of this bill here.
